AK-74
1974 Soviet 5.45×39mm assault rifle / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The AK-74 (Russian: Автомат Калашникова образца 1974 года, tr. Avtomat Kalashnikova obraztsa 1974 goda, lit. 'Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1974') is an assault rifle designed by small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1974 as a successor to the AKM. While primarily associated with the Soviet Union, it has been used by many countries since the 1970s. It is chambered for the 5.45×39mm cartridge, which replaced the 7.62×39mm cartridge of Kalashnikov's earlier automatic weapons for the Soviet Armed Forces.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2016) |
AK-74 | |
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Type | Assault rifle |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1974–present[1] 1991–present (AK-74M) |
Used by | See Users |
Wars |
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Production history | |
Designer | Mikhail Kalashnikov |
Designed |
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Manufacturer | Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash) |
Produced |
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No. built | 5,000,000+[6] |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass |
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Length |
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Barrel length | 415 mm (16.3 in) |
Width | AK-74M: 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Height | AK-74M: 195 mm (7.7 in) |
Cartridge | 5.45×39mm |
Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | |
Muzzle velocity | 880–900 m/s (2,887–2,953 ft/s)[9][8] |
Effective firing range |
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Maximum firing range | 3,150 m (3,440 yd) |
Feed system | 30-round AK-74 and 45-round RPK-74 detachable box magazine, 60-round casket magazine and 96-round RPK-16 drum magazines |
Sights | Adjustable iron sights, front post and rear notch on a scaled tangent |
The rifle first saw service with Soviet forces in the Soviet–Afghan War from 1979.[10] The head of the Afghan bureau of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the intelligence agency of Pakistan, claimed that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paid $5,000 for the first AK-74 captured by the Afghan mujahideen during the Afghan-Soviet War.[11]
As of 2021[update], most countries of the former Soviet Union use the rifle. Licensed copies were produced in Bulgaria (AK-74, AKS-74 and AKS-74U), and in the former East Germany (MPi-AK-74N, MPi-AKS-74N, MPi-AKS-74NK).[10][12][13]